isreali mauser w/loose front sight

[mountainman]

Hey all I picked up an isreali mauser some time ago and it has always shot great. The problem is that when I took her out the other day for a wipe down the front sight band was loose. I could turn the whole band. I've never had that happen before and the rifle was never droped or abused what do I have to do to get the sight tightened up and centered again. I am hopeing it's an easy fix but don't know for sure.
Thank you in advance
Craig

[UBER7MM]

MountainMan,

Sounds like the solder came loose. You can solder it back on if you have a torch available. If you don't you can epoxy it in place. (JB Weld or like product) For a proper bond you'll probably want to remove the front site band and then clean both interior and exterior surfaces. In either case, put the rifle in a padded vice and and make a trial run of aligning the front site with the rear site before attaching. A small witness mark may also come in handy.

Safe shooting,

[Mk42gunner]

If it is like most other Mausers I have seen, there is a small set screw under the front sight that just bears on the barrel. I think its primary purpose is to hold the sight band for soft soldering.

I would drive out the front sight and look before removing the base, then clean things up, tin both the band and the barrel and reinstall it. It shouldn't take much heat to get things to sweat back together properly.

Robert

[mountainman]

Thanks fellas I'll give it a shot this weekend and see if it works I've got some silver solder in the tool box.
Thanks again.

[MtGun44]

Not silver solder! Soft solder, like 63-37 ordinary electronic solder.

Bil

[BCgunworks]

Softest solder that should be used is brownells high force 44.

[Gtek]

I think if it has rotated more than a wiggle there is going to be an issue with screw. Screw should go into drilled hole at 12 0'clock. I would first remove screw and see if it is in two pieces, if so install a good one and just re-heat and you may be done. Gtek

[mountainman]

I knew that I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. Thank you for the soldering info I have electrical solder too. I'll look under the sight and see whats going on with the set screw before I get started.
Thank you all
Craig